North Dakota Postgame 1/22

[AnneDVM]

I heard them mention that Roeszler was still sick with the bug that had gone through the team.  They didn't mention whether he would be well enough to play tonight.

[Scersk '97]

From my seat on The Internets, I would say that we and UND spent an extended portion of the 1st period feeling each other out and then traded woefully ineffective five-minute power plays in the second.  We looked very good in the first few minutes of the third leading up to the goal, went into a great defensive shell for about 10 minutes, and were, in the end, reasonably lucky to preserve the win against significant NoDak pressure.  For the first two periods it was a particularly boring game.  (How is that even possible with two five-minute majors?  I'm not sure, but it is.)  For the last five minutes of the third, it was much more exciting than I would have liked.

I thought both goalies looked pretty solid, but UND was much more interested in protecting their freshman than we were in protecting Scrivens—hence the 7 shot differential in the first.

UND reminded me of some particularly strong Clarkson teams from the mid-90s, say, for example, the '96-'97 team with Todd White.  They were quick and strong with the puck, and not averse to taking some body in the corners; yet, they seemed content on offense to take long shots from the point that weren't serious threats to our goalies.  Jason Elliot, in those days, absorbed those shots like a giant sponge; Scrivens was doing that last night.  (The only reasonable analysis—come on, Fridge!—from the otherwise woefully inadequate Time-Warner commentators was their observation regarding how well Scrivens was preventing rebounds.)

I don't feel that we stole a win; honestly, I think we were not at our best last night, so, as Wodon mentions in his capsule on CHN, we reverted to a grind-it-out style, recalling that '97 (Cooney!) Cornell team, that I am rather glad we can still play.  (FWIW, Hakstol seemed to feel that his team did not come out flat.)  It's not a high-win-percentage style, nor is it a style I want to see us have to resort to very often.  But, when you're having an off night versus tough competition, it's a great way to make it to a coin toss.

[nyc94]

Good win, but no help in the pairwise (I know it's early for this).  Need to get some more wins vs. TUCs so tomorrow is huge.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe the TUC category only counts if both teams in a comparison have 10 or more games against TUCs.  Cornell is currently 2-2-1 (wins over North Dakota and UNH, tie with Union, losses to Yale and Colorado College).  Cornell only has three teams left on the schedule that are currently TUCs - North Dakota, Yale, and Union.  St. Lawrence and RPI are currently no. 26 and 27 in RPI and could become TUCs.  And Cornell would probably play one or two TUCs if it makes it to Albany.  Just saying that getting to 10 is not assured yet or might not come into play until very late in the year.  Best thing right now is to boost our own RPI by winning.

[MattShaf]

Great grind it out win. On one of those nights where the offense and power play were not clicking, the defwnse and goaltending stepped up and generated a win over a highly ranked opponent. Scrivens play was superb. I'm looking forward to a more open but harder hitting game tonight.

[Goon]

Trotsky,

You have listed the game that Cornell played RPI in 83-84, What about the three games they played in 84-85? RPI must have been in the top five for all three.

I'll bet they were.  If there's a chance you can tell me when RPI grabbed #1 that season (I assume they held it after) I can update.

He has a high ankle sprain.

[KeithK]

Trotsky,

You have listed the game that Cornell played RPI in 83-84, What about the three games they played in 84-85? RPI must have been in the top five for all three.

I'll bet they were.  If there's a chance you can tell me when RPI grabbed #1 that season (I assume they held it after) I can update.

He has a high ankle sprain.

RPI? Trotsky? Ralph?

[ansky629]

Good win, but no help in the pairwise (I know it's early for this).  Need to get some more wins vs. TUCs so tomorrow is huge.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe the TUC category only counts if both teams in a comparison have 10 or more games against TUCs.  Cornell is currently 2-2-1 (wins over North Dakota and UNH, tie with Union, losses to Yale and Colorado College).  Cornell only has three teams left on the schedule that are currently TUCs - North Dakota, Yale, and Union.  St. Lawrence and RPI are currently no. 26 and 27 in RPI and could become TUCs.  And Cornell would probably play one or two TUCs if it makes it to Albany.  Just saying that getting to 10 is not assured yet or might not come into play until very late in the year.  Best thing right now is to boost our own RPI by winning.

Very true, but wins against TUCs, who are by definition better teams will also help the RPI and given that NoDak is from the WCHA will also help us in common opponents.  I guess my late-night ramblings just took the easy way out and instead of saying all that just said "TUCs".

[TimV]

Nice post, Scersk.  While acknowledging that hockey is much better in person, from my seat at the end of the thirteenth row of Section O (Which really does suck when you can't see the penalty times for 5 min majors) I thought it was far from boring.  NoDak's passes were frequently tape-to-tape causing some beautiful play, and I was surprised by our own speed and set-ups which were only foiled by some great sticks-in-the-lanes Sioux defense.  But you can't usually see that on TV. I'd love the consensus that we didn't play well to be right for tonight.

[TimV]

Love your team, Goon.  I get to see them a lot on DirecTV, but it's great to get a chance to see 'em in person.  Love their style.

[jkahn]

Good win, but no help in the pairwise (I know it's early for this).  Need to get some more wins vs. TUCs so tomorrow is huge.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe the TUC category only counts if both teams in a comparison have 10 or more games against TUCs.  Cornell is currently 2-2-1 (wins over North Dakota and UNH, tie with Union, losses to Yale and Colorado College).  Cornell only has three teams left on the schedule that are currently TUCs - North Dakota, Yale, and Union.  St. Lawrence and RPI are currently no. 26 and 27 in RPI and could become TUCs.  And Cornell would probably play one or two TUCs if it makes it to Albany.  Just saying that getting to 10 is not assured yet or might not come into play until very late in the year.  Best thing right now is to boost our own RPI by winning.

Very true, but wins against TUCs, who are by definition better teams will also help the RPI and given that NoDak is from the WCHA will also help us in common opponents.  I guess my late-night ramblings just took the easy way out and instead of saying all that just said "TUCs".

Tonight's game is also huge for the Common Opponent Comparison of PWR.  Going 2-1 vs. the WCHA (NDak and CC) could definitely turn a lot of comparisons vs. WCHA teams as opposed to going 1-2.  Obviously there are a lot of other factors, but if we are going to make the NCAA's without winning the ECAC tournament, tonight's game may be the key to passing a few other teams in PWR.

[JDeafv]

Anybody else notice the gamesmanship between Schafer and Hakstol over line changes after whistles?  Hakstol was complaining loudly to the refs, because he felt Cornell was changing extremely late, which they were, because UND was slow making the required first change.  At one point, Hakstol blatantly sent a set of forwards on the ice well after Cornell changed, Schafer went ballistic and the refs forced the UND skaters to return to the bench.

I like little stuff like this and I hope it continues tonight.  ::laugh::  It's one of the fun things associated with back-to-back games against the same team that we rarely get here at Lynah.

[Goon]

Love your team, Goon.  I get to see them a lot on DirecTV, but it's great to get a chance to see 'em in person.  Love their style.

Thanks, where the heck do you get all of these big talented goaltenders? LOL, a lot of UND fans are down on them right now, no puck luck, missing our top players, the only games I have seen Cornell in is against UNH and last night.

[Tom Lento]

That was Cornell 6, #1 Vermont 4 at Lynah on 11/15/96.

On 1/7/97, Cornell tied #1 Michigan 3-3 at Yost.

Edit: My source for the contemporaneous rankings is Arthur Mintz's 1996-97 season recap in the 1997-98 media guide.

That UVM game was the first time I'd ever seen a hockey game in person. What a way to start.

I only caught the 3rd period of the game on the feed (bolted out of work early and got home just in time for the start of the 3rd), but I thought the biggest difference there was passing. NoDak was tape to tape on more of their passes, while Cornell seemed to be passing into skates early in the period and passing just out of reach in the last 10 minutes or so. The Cornell goal and a lot of the good puck possession Cornell generated for the first 5 minutes of the period featured solid passes, either as routine plays to open men cycling in the corners or pretty looks through traffic like Kennedy's sweet feed for the game-winner.

Cornell's shot blocking ability continues to amaze me. I figured I'd get used to it eventually, since Schafer's teams have always been good at blocking shots, but it's still impressive.

[ithacat]

Love your team, Goon.  I get to see them a lot on DirecTV, but it's great to get a chance to see 'em in person.  Love their style.

Thanks, where the heck do you get all of these big talented goaltenders? LOL, a lot of UND fans are down on them right now, no puck luck, missing our top players, the only games I have seen Cornell in is against UNH and last night.

Missing your top players? Your top scorers seemed to on the ice or someone else was wearing their jerseys. I didn't see Hextall and Genoway, that seemed to be about it...thanks for taking it easy on a bunch of eggheads. :-)

I loved watching these two games. The Sioux were a blast to watch. There were a fair number of fans and they were in full color. It was good to see Cornell test itself against a top team that can really force the action and impose its will at times. Hopefully, the Red can learn some valuable lessions...especially in neutral zone play, where they really got schooled.